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Dental Hygiene for Cavity Prevention

Posted September 14, 2017.

We all know that the best way to treat a cavity is to not get one in the first place. Here are some great tips on how to prevent cavities.

To understand how to prevent cavities, it is first important to understand how cavities form. Cavities are areas of the tooth enamel that have worn away to form a hole, exposing the soft tissues underneath. This erosion in the enamel opens up those tissues to damage which can eventually lead to tooth decay or even tooth death. Thus, it is very important to prevent or treat cavities as much as possible.

The erosion occurs because of bacteria that live in your mouth. These bacteria feed off of sugars, and produce an acidic byproduct that wears away the enamel of your teeth. This is why it is so important to brush and floss your teeth–it removes the food debris the bacteria feed off of, it kills the bacteria, and it neutralizes the acidic by-product that causes tooth decay.

Brush your teeth twice a day, for 2 minutes each time. Floss once a day, taking 2-3 minutes to remove all food particles, plaque, and debris from between your teeth. Talk to your dentist about adding on a therapeutic over-the-counter mouthwash to further help destroy bacteria.
For more information on how to take care of your smile, contact Atwood Family Dental at 432.337.6165. If you are in the Odessa, Texas area, be sure to call us for an appointment! Dr. Greg Atwood and our team will be happy to see you!